One Book One Bloomington and Beyond

Discussion of a single book and the issues therein to encourage literary reading and to build community by encouraging conversation and the sharing of ideas by members of the community.

One Book One Bloomington 2013

Join us in Reading the One Book One Bloomington Selection for 2013

The Handmaid's Tale
by Margaret Atwood

The story takes place in the futuristic Republic of Gilead (the United States renamed), which is governed by a group of religious fanatics. The story is told through the eyes of Offred, whom her society defines solely by her biological function as a child-bearer. In eloquent prose, Atwood reveals her themes of power and its manipulation, gender conflict, the place of the individual in society, and the power of language and storytelling. The novel has been banned in schools, made into a film and an opera, and has not been out of print since its publication.